LUBRICATION AND CARE OF THE SEPARATOR. 197 



should frequently be removed' and the skein cleaned of all 

 caked grease and dirt. The skein should then be well coated 

 with axle-grease, especially near the large end which has the 

 greatest wear. It is well to spread some machine-oil over 

 the axle-grease. The separator truck-wheels especially 

 should have frequent attention, as the dust and chaff of 

 threshing quickly dries the grease or oil. A good operator 

 will not permit the skeins and hubs of the machinery in his 

 care to be injured for want of proper lubrication. 



The Care of a Separator. With good care a separator 

 should last eight or ten years, and there are many Case 

 machines that have been" in use twice that length of time. 

 When the threshing season is finished, the machine should 

 be thoroughly cleaned an.d housed in a dry place. Dirt that 

 has been allowed to remain on the machine during the win- 

 te-r, holds moisture, ruins varnish and paint, rots the wood 

 and rusts the sieves and other iron parts. The appearance 

 of a machine usually tells a truer tale of its condition than 

 the number of years it has been run. The separator should 

 be given a coat of good coach varnish at least once in two 

 years. Before applying the varnish, the paint should be 

 thoroughly cleaned and all grease and oil removed with 



benzine. 



i 



Before the beginning of each threshing season, the 



separator should be carefully overhauled, worn cylinder teeth 

 being removed and all broken slats in the straw-rack or 

 stacker-rakes being replaced. Any boxes that are worn 



